When I was little, I got my first car game to play on the computer, Need for Speed Hot Pursuit. Remember the Need For Speed series? How I miss the days of NFS Underground, Hot Pursuit, etc. In the Hot Pursuit game, one of the cars featured was an E39 M5 (BMW cars are classified by their generations so the 1996-2003 5 Series is the E39), and I became enamored with its power (in the game) and its styling. I never have and probably never will own a brand new luxury sedan, but if I had to go used, the only luxury sedans I would consider buying is the first generation Infiniti M or an E39 5 Series with a manual transmission. The first M vehicle for the 5 Series was the 1980 M535i although it was not badged as an actual M brand vehicle, but it came with performance and visual upgrades. The first actual M5 came with the second 5 Series generation (E28 1981-1988) in 1985-1988 which was only available with a manual transmission and sold in “Jet Black” color only. The next 5 Series generation (E34) brought along another M5 version that was sold from 1989-1995. The E28 and E34 were the last M5 models to be hand built before the E39 arrived. When the E39 M5 debuted in 1998, it took the world by storm. People raved about its 394 horsepower V8 engine, its butch looks, and its overall image as M’s flagship sports sedan. This M5 reviewed here is a Dinan edition; Dinan is a company that produces both mechanical and cosmetic aftermarket products for BMW vehicles. They also have a long standing relationship with BMW as Dinan modified BMWs are able to retain their factory warranties. Even though this is not the regular M5, I could not resist the opportunity to be able to review one of my favorite cars in the entire world. How desperate was I to review an E39 M5? So desperate that I saw this car in a parking lot and left a note on the windshield asking the owner if I can review the car. Fortunately the owner obliged. Continue reading →

This past weekend, I was lucky enough to attend the Chicago Auto Show. This was my third time, and as expected, nothing compares to seeing a showroom full of cars. Prior to this car show, I was really anxious for the reveal of the third generation 2016 Pilot. My first car was a 2004 Honda Pilot (my sister is currently driving it), and I love it, so as a Pilot owner, I was curious to see whether Honda would continue the blocky styling or go the “mommy SUV” route. And my reaction was…unexpected. Seeing all these wonderful cars in one place, I went into overload with excitement, and all of sudden I could not have the capacity to restrain myself, and as such, I irritated my family because I could not stop talking about cars. Oh well. Please forgive the quality of my pictures as these were taken from an iPhone. Continue reading →

There is a great television show on the Esquire Network called the Car Matchmaker with Spike Feresten. If you are looking for a new car or contemplating a car purchase, then Car Matchmaker may be for you! Click on the image below and find out what Car Matchmaker is about, and how you can be part of it!

For the longest time I could remember, the third generation Infiniti M has always been my favorite luxury sedan. Funny thing is, I have never actually driven one. Its sporty looks and the fact that it was based off the same platform as the Nissan Z sports car gave it performance credibility. This generation was a Consumer Reports Top Pick, and it was well received by the press. The strange thing is that the M wasn’t always a luxury sedan. Rather, it was a two door in either a coupe or convertible configuration. In 1989, Nissan introduced its luxury division, Infiniti, to take on the Germans. As one of the first two models to be produced by Infiniti, the 1989 M30 Coupe and Convertible were a rebadged Nissan Leopard. Alas, it lasted only three years in production. According to Wikipedia, it is rumored that less than 12,000 M30s have been sold, making it the rarest Infiniti ever made. It was not until 2002 that the M was revived as a rebadged Nissan Gloria, this time as a luxury sedan. My friend Madison’s father had a silver M45 when I was little, and I remember being fascinated with it. The second generation M was long and narrow, and this gave it a futuristic appearance. The fact that it was powered by a 340 horsepower V8 which was a a lot back then added to its appeal. Sadly, due to its high price and unremarkable handling, it trailed the BMW 5 Series and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Sales were so low that this generation only lasted for two years. This time, Infiniti wasn’t taking any chances. In 2006, it debuted an all new and redesigned M, again another rebadged Nissan sold as the Nissan Fuga in Japan. This time, the Infiniti M was based off the “FM” (front-midship which basically means the engine is pushed behind the front axle for better weight distribution) platform that underpinned the Nissan Z sports car as well as the sporty Infiniti FX SUV and G sedan. In addition to having a chassis derived from a sports car, the M also was powered by Nissan’s well-received “VQ-series” engines. I was both nervous and excited to review this car to see if it really did live up to my expectations. Continue reading →

This is a post is written by Ken about his 2000 Alfa Romeo 156 2.5 V6. He is from New Zealand, one of the most beautiful countries I ever visited, and he has a really cool car blog, revvedupblog.wordpress.com (You should check it out!). Anyways, here is his story about his Alfa Romeo.

What makes this car more special than others is that it was my first car. It was the car I learnt to drive in, it was the car I used to take my driving test, and it was the car I grew up with. My parents owned the car before me. We got it sometime around 2001 when I was but a small boy who didn’t know what an Alfa Romeo was. I remember looking down from my bedroom window onto the driveway and seeing this weird and unusual looking thing sitting there. I remember thinking it was a strange looking car, especially the front. I didn’t care much for the hidden door handles either as I could never reach it. I remember when they brought it back and they were so excited by it. I refused to ride in it unless I was forced to. I ignored the Alfa like a cat ignores an empty food bowl.

Now though, I think it’s a beautiful looking car. But of course I would. Still, you have to admit for a car that was launched in the late-1990s it still looks good today. It’s aged well. The same can’t be said for its contemporaries. The Walter d’Silva penned body exudes classic Italian styling cues. Subtle detailing, curves at all the right places, and perfect proportions. The Alfa shield up front which weirded the younger me out has now grown on me. The ‘whiskers’ joining the grille to the headlights are on of my favourite details. I like the unsymmetrical positioning of the number plate too. From the side it does look like a coupe with those hidden rear door handles. The rear actually looks like time was spent designing it. The taillights were so good that they pretty much used the same design for the 159. I love walking up to it in mornings and always give it second look when I leave it at night. Continue reading →

Hey guys, I recently had an idea after doing a review of my car. I think it would be cool for readers of this blog to share stories of their cars. Everybody drives a car that is special to them, and it is different for everybody. Just like how my Honda Pilot is special to me, everybody has different opinions on why they care about their cars, regardless of public perception. Most people consider the Honda Pilot as an average family SUV, but to me, this car is more than that. I’ve had a good ten years with this Pilot, and many memories were made. I am doing this because I think it would be interesting for me and my readers to read about one’s personal connection to their cars.If you want to share your story about your car, this is all you have to do: Continue reading →

Hey fellow car fanatics, welcome to the first ever Readers’ Stories post. This post is written by Bryan ( http://coolqidstable.com/) about his 2005 Subaru Legacy GT Limited with 78k miles.

Some people may ask why I chose the Legacy GT over the conventional WRX. The reason is because I like to be different. Even with my first car (1966 Mustang), I modified it and did things that most other traditional Ford guys would do. I drove the Mustang for a good four years, until I needed something more practical for going off to school. I had rode in my buddy’s 2008 Legacy GT and really liked the contrast from the WRX. It combined the luxury of leather and a nicer interior with the power of the turbo charged Boxer engine, which I had always liked. Continue reading →

I was looking through my pictures, and I found that I had these pictures of the Mazda3 from a photoshoot that I never got around to editing. I reviewed this Mazda way back in January. I loved the first generation 3 with its stylish exterior and interior, spunky handling, and great engines. The only thing I wished for was a manual transmission. This cute 3 is the quintessential compact sedan. You know how everybody says you’re not perfect your first time? Well, this was my first attempt at night photography, so it is interesting to see how much progress I have made from this photoshoot to now. Hope you enjoy these pictures!